The epidemiology of self-defense gun use: Evidence from the National Crime Victimization Surveys 2007–2011

• Data come from the National Crime Victimization Survey 2007–2011.
• Self-defense gun use (SDGU) occurs in fewer than 1% of contact crimes.
• Males and rural dwellers are most likely to use a gun in self-defense.
• SDGU is not associated with a reduced risk of victim injury.
• Self-defense with any weapon is associated with a reduced risk of property loss.

ABSTRACTObjectivesTo describe the epidemiology of self-defense gun use (SDGU) and the relative effectiveness of SDGU in preventing injury and property loss.MethodsData come from the National Crime Victimization Survey for 2007–2011, focusing on personal contact crimes. For property loss, we examined incidents where the intent was to steal property. Multivariate analyses controlled for age, gender of offender and victim, if offender had a gun, urbanicity, and thirteen types of self-protective action.ResultsOf over 14,000 incidents in which the victim was present, 127 (0.9%) involved a SDGU. SDGU was more common among males, in rural areas, away from home, against male offenders and against offenders with a gun. After any protective action, 4.2% of victims were injured; after SDGU, 4.1% of victims were injured. In property crimes, 55.9% of victims who took protective action lost property, 38.5 of SDGU victims lost property, and 34.9% of victims who used a weapon other than a gun lost property.ConclusionsCompared to other protective actions, the National Crime Victimization Surveys provide little evidence that SDGU is uniquely beneficial in reducing the likelihood of injury or property loss.